Are you a designer or someone specializing in graphic design and you want to get started in digital? It's a great idea, because now, in the era of globalization, all professions are going digital. And that of designer or graphic designer will not be forgotten. A self-respecting graphic designer must have high-quality equipment such as a graphics tablet.
On the market, the flowery offer and choosing a model adapted to your needs and budget is not always easy. So, we invite you to discover our guide to the best graphics tablets in 2020. Below, we provide you with useful advice for choosing the ideal graphics tablet.
Comparison of the best graphics tablets in 2020
1. X-pen Artist 12: Our favorite
Features and Reviews
If you're looking for a graphics tablet for drawing without breaking the bank, you've come to the right place. The XP-Pen Artist 12 is what you need. This model will suit you whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional. We recognize the attractiveness of its cost compared to models offering the same specifications.
The XP-Pen Artist 12 graphics tablet has a large size with its width of 21.8 cm, its length of 36.3 cm and its thickness of 1 cm. Its weight of 900 g makes it a model that you can carry everywhere with you. In addition, the graphics tablet has an IPS screen with high definition resolution. Thus, the colors are faithfully reproduced to ensure an exceptional result.
Furthermore, the viewing angle offered by this drawing tablet is 178°. We still remember that we are an ambidextrous model which will be used by right-handed as well as left-handed people. With its passive stylus which works without batteries and without electrical energy, the tablet will offer undeniable comfort of use to those who use it. The sensations provided by using this XP-Pen Artist 12 graphics tablet are very similar to those offered by using a pencil in hand for a drawing on paper.
Still, the result obtained will strongly depend on the pressure applied during the maneuver. An integrated eraser will allow you to repair errors; so don't hesitate to use your stylus in all directions. Versatile, it has a 3 in 1 cable which offers maximum flexibility to the user. No worries if you haven't yet connected the Artist 12 to your PC. This is a tablet which aims to be particularly autonomous thanks to its screen and its adapter.
To optimize the performance of the device, 8 replacement tips are provided with purchase. A case will also allow you to protect the stylus from scratches. We also note a cloth for cleaning the surface of the design as well as a glove to facilitate the circulation and fluidity of the hand on the active surface.
2. Wacom Intuos Pro Large PTH-860-S: the graphics tablet suitable for professionals
Features and Reviews
If there is the first aspect where we observe the seriousness and professionalism of Wacom, it is in the design of the tablet. The Wacom Intuos Pro Large PTH-860-S is intended to be functional and aesthetic. Its high-quality design gives it a certain durability. The tablet is made of anodized aluminum and fiberglass. Well finished, this drawing tablet is equipped with a stylus made of steel for durable use.
Wacom presents it as an innovative and accomplished creative pen tablet. It is specifically designed to take advantage of a Wacom Pro Pen 2 stylus for high-precision drawings. The tablet offers perfect connectivity to various terminals, whether Windows PCs or those with an iOS operating system. The tablet is also compatible with Bluetooth technology or a USB cable. To do this, you will need to install the drivers and start working with your favorite software.
If the graphics tablet allows you to benefit from wireless technology thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, you will also be able to work with wired technology via USB. However, let's admit that quite a few users are fond of wireless technology, especially since the device allows you to take advantage of a battery life of around 15 hours for extensive use. The Wacom Pro Pen 2 will give you 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity.
At this level, we can say that the manufacturer seems to have thought of everything. On the side, there are 8 expressKeys which can be used as shortcuts. A central button available on the machine allows you to go from one application to another or to configure technical aspects of creation. Featuring a multi-touch screen, the device allows you to select, zoom in, zoom out with your fingers. Please note that you can deactivate this functionality from the computer side.
3. Wacom Cintiq Pro 16: ideal for intensive use
Features and Reviews
Wacom is the brand specializing in graphics tablets that needs no introduction. The brand is always innovating with increasingly innovative devices. Impossible to present our comparison of the best graphics tablets without presenting some models from its catalog. Here, the Cintiq Pro 16. This graphic has nothing to envy of other models of its generation. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced designer, it will suit you perfectly.
Having delighted many fans, it includes a panel with an Ultra HD resolution of 3840 x 194 mm, all supported by a viewing angle of 176°. It is therefore an ideal device for expressing drawing talents of all kinds. A good graphics tablet should offer a certain dynamism when it comes to colors. Wacom understands this well. This Cintiq Pro 16 graphics tablet offers an 8-bit panel that promises 16.7 million colors with 94% coverage of the Adobe RGB color space.
For a question of ergonomics, the tablet sports a foot that can be deployed at an angle of 20°. Which gives you the possibility of putting the graphics tablet in the direction that suits you. To take advantage of all the advantages of the Wacom Cintiq 16, the brand offers a Pro Pen 3D stylus.
The stylus is therefore a better ally for people who want to take photos with a focus on 3D modeling. This stylus offers 8912 levels of pressure sensitivity, which ensures image clarity. It has two side buttons to make it user-friendly and comfortable to hold. Built-in EMR technology makes using the pen even easier.
4. Kamvas Pro 13: the best value for money
Features and Reviews
One of the good things about the Kamvas Pro 13 graphics tablet is that its price is ridiculously low. During our test of this graphics tablet, we were surprised by what it was able to offer us. It sports a 13.3-inch color screen and works with a passive stylus, making it an ideal device for wireless use. It offers 8,192 pressure levels as was done for the previous model in this comparison.
Furthermore, we welcome the resolution of this Full HD screen. Based on full lamination technology, that is to say it integrates a screen panel as well as a protective glass. This design guarantees a reliable level of thickness for better durability. Offering an unprecedented drawing experience, the tablet offers invaluable visual comfort due to its glass treated to avoid the sensation of reflections. It's called anti-glare Lamination Screen technology. This is a major argument on which the manufacturer is relying to distribute this product with great fanfare.
In addition, there are 4 shortcut keys, but also a touch bar allowing you to zoom in on a detail. As the poster is under the kilogram mark, we agree that the tablet is neither too heavy nor too bulky, which makes it an easy device to handle and transport. The presence of the touch bar and shortcut keys will save you a lot of time.
5- GAOMON S620 graphics tablet
Features and Reviews
There are many reasons to get this M10 K graphics tablet. Boasting a slim and light design, its featherweight will allow you to take it anywhere with you. Even if you don't use it intensely or for a long time, this device won't hurt your wrist. Furthermore, the graphics tablet has a large drawing surface, which will allow you to do a lot of things, whether photo editing, writing, graphics, but also drawings.
The surface is smooth, which provides a pleasant hand feeling. Even if you don't have a gauntlet, you won't suffer from fingers becoming slippery on it like many models do. Furthermore, it is important to point out that the presence of the stylus is a big plus. This stylus offers a pressure level of 2048, which guarantees great precision during use. With great sensitivity, the tablet does not require prolonged pressing for the lines to be displayed.
Furthermore, it is a passive pen which will not risk breaking down at the wrong time. The other advantage of this GAOMON S620 tablet is the surface area of the active zone. It is indeed a major asset, whether for draftsmen or for designers. Because you will have sufficient space to do what you like, you will experience great pleasure working on this graphics tablet with a resolution of 5080 LPI.
What is a graphics tablet?
The graphics tablet also benefits from the name of digitizer, pen tablet, drawing pad or even digital art card. It allows a designer to design images, animations and graphics with a special pen called a stylus. This type of tablet can also be used for data capture or handwritten signatures. This usage is somewhat similar to the signature blocks seen in retail stores.
The graphics tablet consists of a flat surface where you can draw images using a stylus. Tablets continue to emerge on the market, and are particularly designed to replace the mouse, known as a pointing object. Its purpose is to convert the data transmitted by the stylus. The latter being used as a pen, brush or pencil, it is pressed on its tip on the surface of the computer.
The device can be used instead of a computer mouse. The first tablets on the market were designed by Wacom. Since then, the manufacturer has experienced ineffable competition. The product is of such capital importance that brands continue to design new models that increasingly adapt to the needs of the most demanding users.
Why buy a graphics tablet?
Purchasing a graphics tablet will give you the possibility of changing your different drawing options on a computer. But, it is important to keep in mind or admit that a tablet will not make you better at drawing, regardless of its price. That being said, with such equipment, you will work in a different way and achieve impressive results through the power of layers.
The first advantage of the graphics tablet is ease of use. The feeling that a graphics tablet provides is similar to that of drawing on a sheet of paper. If the first graphics tablets displayed a significant artificial side, this is no longer the case today. Recent pen tablets have solved the problem and offer easy, user-friendly handling.
A tool suitable for designers
To design the best models of graphics tablets, manufacturers took care to ask the opinions of the people for whom such devices were intended. People who use this device have the same opinion: the graphics tablet offers the possibility of saving time and productivity. Deleting or adding a detail from a detail quickly contributes to the efficient creation of graphics unlike drawing with pencil on a traditional sheet of paper. Although the graphics tablet requires time to get used to, it is worth it, since you will definitely experience happiness using it on a daily basis.
Good to know : Some graphic designers don't like using a tablet for drawing... If this is your case, here is our ranking of designer laptops that are worth it this year! Moreover, if you use a computer for this activity, also remember to equip yourself with a vertical ergonomic mouse! See our comparison of mice for graphic designers .
Compatibility
One of the major advantages of the graphics tablet also lies in its compatibility with numerous photography and drawing software, such as Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and others. That being said, whatever your working environment, you will have a very easy time integrating it into your Workflow, but also taking advantage of all the best it has to offer you. In addition, the graphics tablet will not require you to equip yourself with a powerful computer.
Intuitive and complete object
We use the graphics tablet with a stylus. The latter offers the possibility of having control over the tablet and using the main functionalities available. It goes without saying that the sensations the stylus provides are similar to those of drawing with a pencil. If you can charge it easily, you will also be able to plug it directly into your computer.
As you have certainly noticed, the graphics tablet has quite a few advantages. It is essential equipment if you want to get started in drawing and graphics work.
How to choose a graphics tablet?
The tablet is what every professional graphic designer needs, but not all tablets are the same. How to choose a model that not only fits your needs, but also your budget? Here are the important factors in selecting a graphics tablet.
Pressure sensitivity
Pressure sensitivity is a technology now available on modern graphics tablets. This sensitivity also depends on how hard you press the pen while drawing. When it comes to sensitivity, graphics tablets can come in several choices. However, it is important to note that most entry-level graphics tablets do not have pressure sensitivity.
Preferably, we recommend choosing devices with a level of sensitivity that you are able to afford. Thus, you will have a feeling that is close to an experience of working with a classic pen or brush on canvas or paper. Once you get a feel for what pressure sensitivity can provide, you'll never want to work with graphics tablets that don't provide it; the difference being quite notable.
Resolution
One of the most important things when buying a graphics tablet is the resolution. The quality of a graphics tablet depends on the resolution it is able to offer. Concretely, as the resolution increases, the more likely you will be to obtain more precise renderings, inevitably getting closer to reality.
Does this mean you should buy the highest resolution available? Well, if you can afford it, it wouldn't be a bad idea. However, if you're on a budget, you'll need to consider whether the type of work you're doing requires incredibly fine detail or not.
For basic logo design work, you won't necessarily need the fine details. You can save money by investing in a basic tablet with a lower resolution. On the other hand, you will need a high-resolution tablet on which you will produce fine art and photo-realistic drawings.
Still, over time you can ask for more in terms of resolution. AND in this case, the best thing is to wait for technology to evolve before getting suitable work equipment. On some tablets, resolution is measured in pixels, while on others, the unit of measurement for resolution is line per inch (LPI).
Tracking speed
Tracking speed is given in points per second (PPS). It corresponds to the time it takes for the computer to display the stroke made by the stylus. If the tracking speed is high, you will be able to expect less delay and lag time between the moment you make a stroke on the drawing surface and the moment the computer responds to that stroke. As you will have understood, graphics tablets which are several years old and whose PPS ratings are quite low can provide very poor performance such as bugs.
Size
When purchasing a graphics tablet, it is always essential to ensure you are getting the best possible value for money. You need to budget more if you choose an ultra-large tablet. However, a smaller tablet can offer higher resolution for the amount you spend, and most artists find that smaller tablets work just fine.
Likewise, large graphics tablets require you to have sufficient space to position them. Of course, purchasing a larger desk will solve the problem. But you should be prepared to pay a premium price if you get a large, high-resolution tablet, not to mention that it will be quite bulky. The good thing about smaller tablets is that they are ultra-portable and therefore compact and durable.
Design material
The material from which your future graphics tablet was made is also an essential element to explore when choosing such a device. In the market, you will find many tablets made from cheap plastics. And even if your tablet is plastic, always make sure it has more metals than plastic on the exterior surface. If so, you'll definitely benefit from a quality tablet that offers some durability. Next to it, we find the tablets all covered in metal. Heaviness is the primary characteristic of this type of tablet. It attracts air condensation in cold areas.
If the quality of the shell is essential when choosing a graphics tablet, the most important thing in all that remains the material on which the drawing will be made. Every user really needs the drawing surface to be as smooth as possible. For entry-level models, the surface of the design results in the presence of a grainy texture. This can affect how smoothly the pen can glide across the surface. In this area, Wacom has set the bar high with its special line of graphics tablets known as Cintiq. It's the smoothest tablet experience you'll find because you draw directly on glass.
Connectivity
When you want to choose a graphics tablet, it is important to consider how it will connect to your computer. If you have an older computer, your only option will be USB 2. It is rare for a current generation tablet to have (or require) USB 3. In all cases, a USB 3 connector fits plugs into a USB 2 port and works perfectly well. More modern computers may be able to communicate with some graphics tablets using BlueTooth. Not all graphics tablets have BlueTooth technology installed, so you'll need to check if that's how you prefer to work.
Compatibility with operating systems
The choice of graphics tablet will also depend on the operating system you use. The best-known graphics tablets, those from Wacom, will offer better compatibility with Windows , Mac and Linux systems. Models like Wacom Intuos 5, Wacom Intuos 4 and Wacom Intuos 3 will allow you to benefit from better compatibility with the most popular graphics software and operating systems. It is essential to specify that Apple devices such as iPads, Macs or iPhones are supplied with integrated Wacom drivers like the most common Linux devices on the market.
Graphics tablet with software provided or not?
If your tablet comes with bundled software, it will potentially be better value, but only that it costs you more. So you should choose such option if you really need this software.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading this article until the end. We hope that our comparison and buying guide have enabled you to choose a graphics tablet suited to your needs. There is something for everyone and it is up to you to make a choice that suits your needs and budget.
